Monday, February 21, 2011

The post caught my attention, it stirred something within...but could not define
what exactly. No, not because my little one (that's how I love calling my girl)
would get into the doubles soon.

It is strange that time flies...we all have used this line so very often that we
forget its significance. Can't imagine kids around growing up faster than you
would probably want them to. But it was not that. 'Cos of late have been
interacting with moms of teenagers (let's call them teen mamas, sounds better).

But it is more to do with the selection of words, the order in which they are
beaded together and the tone. Yes, even written language does have a tone. But
it does depend on the readers' frame of mind, too.

Men, most of them, would read the sentence with punctuations introduced
variantly. Motherhood would definitely be the opening word and decade stressed
upon. 'MOTHERhood!, clocks one whole decade!' Did I hear a sigh, too? Unless, of
course, they're inquisitive enough to check the photo gallery, with a 'chalo,
dekh lete hai approach!'

Young mothers would definitely congratulate. Whole-heartedly. Some may feel a
tad sad thinking of the digits adding on their scale, nevertheless, they would
love her spirit. They would see only two words in that announcement - motherhood
and celebration.

Sober older mothers would bless the duo, active old mom's would jump in with
cheeky liners of making it seem all fun and the so-called I-know-it-all old
timers (if they are on FB, that is) would give her a piece of advice on bringing
up the boy and to stop frolicking around for he is stepping into the danger
zone.

But mothers-to-be, the younger, I-wanna-enjoy-life-before-I-get into...girls
would scream out 'congrats'; 'OMG exclamtions! coupled with beautiful adjectives
more on mom's beauty than the son's looks and something else on the page would
catch their attention even before they could finish with their so-called
enthusiastic replies.

Am checking the comments to the post tomorrow. Just curious to know if I know my
mind!

Sunday, February 13, 2011

The serpent tamer's powers have got astrologers as well as astronomers across
the world up in arms. In their desperation to defend themselves they have only
added to the cosmic clutter and banter leaving all those always-practical-
yet-a-bit-superstitious-at-all-times-mortals more confused about their beliefs.

If you are wondering what I'm speaking of, it's the new zodiac sign, Ophiuchus, which
has now seemingly surfaced somewhere on the horizon. The Babylonians had thrown
it far away but seems like the serpent has managed to crawl through the centuries and
at last peep into the 21st one. It is said they wanted only 12 signs to match the 12
months of a year. Fair enough!

But then the moon wanted to make its presence felt. Whoever said ego dwells
only in humans! If astronomers from the Minnesota Planetarium Society are to
be believed then due to the moon's gravitational pull on Earth, the alignment
of the stars has been pushed by about a month. That leaves a creek just wide
enough for the serpent to creep in, shoving up all others, lest it crawls up
your leg.

Until now I had thought most Asians would stay put for they believe in horoscopes -
calculated by the position of planets and stars at the time of birth, and that the
stampede would be concentrated only in the West. But I now hear some western
astrologers have been using tropical zodiac, which is based on seasons. So why this
hue and cry? Let anyone walk in to sqaut or snore.

It's been more than a month since Mr Serpent (this is how I prefer calling the so-called
13th zodiac sign simply because I cannot pronounce Ophiuchus) was introduced and
most of us feel the same as we felt prior to his entry. But if any of you feel any
different then I suggest you look up how you are placed rather than where. Just
because someone says you're no more what you thought you were and so you feel
wierd or elated or depressed, then you need a thorough look-up anyways.

On th brighter side, at least now you have a choice to choose your sign. Select the one
that makes you feel good on a particular day and go about your activities...this is
called taking destiny in your hands - and you gradually learn to become more practical
in life, too.